Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ONLYOFFICE VS PrivacyNotes

Compare ONLYOFFICE VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

ONLYOFFICE logo ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE is a complete office and productivity suite.

PrivacyNotes logo PrivacyNotes

Zero-knowledge encrypted notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords in one app. Your keys never leave your device. One-time price, no subscription. Hosted in Switzerland.
Visit Website
  • ONLYOFFICE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20
  • PrivacyNotes Journal
    Journal //
    2026-06-25
  • PrivacyNotes Settings
    Settings //
    2026-06-25
  • PrivacyNotes Website
    Website //
    2026-06-25

PrivacyNotes is a zero-knowledge encrypted workspace that brings your notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords into one app, so you stop juggling four separate subscriptions.

Everything is encrypted on your device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before it ever syncs. Your keys are derived from a recovery phrase that never touches our servers, so we cannot read your content, your filenames, or anything else. This is real zero-knowledge, not a marketing label.

Five pillars, one encrypted app:

  • Notes - a live markdown editor with note-to-note links, tags, and fast full-text search
  • Tasks - native checklists and task management next to your notes
  • Journals - daily entries with built-in mood, sleep, and medication tracking
  • Files - an encrypted vault for images, audio, and attachments
  • Vault - lock sensitive notes and logins behind a PIN or biometrics

Built for privacy, not surveillance:

  • No ads, no trackers, no analytics, ever
  • Sign in anonymously with a recovery phrase or with Google. No email or personal details required.
  • Open core: the encryption layer and database schema are published for independent review
  • Burn notes: self-destructing shares the server cannot read

Pricing that respects you:

  • Free covers every pillar with two-device sync and offline use
  • Pro is a one-time free, not a subscription, adding unlimited devices, note history, and more storage
  • Optional storage add-ons when you need them

Works on web, macOS, and soon iOS, Android, Windows and Linux with a responsive mobile layout. Import from Apple Notes, Standard Notes, Google Keep, Obsidian, and markdown in a few clicks.

PrivacyNotes

$ Details
freemium $48.0 / One-off (Early adopter price)
Platforms
MacOS Web Firefox Google Chrome Edge Safari
Release Date
2026 June
Startup details
Country
Switzerland
Employees
1 - 9

ONLYOFFICE features and specs

  • Compatibility
    ONLYOFFICE is highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) and also supports other common document formats like PDF, ODF, and more.
  • Collaboration
    It provides real-time collaborative editing features, allowing multiple users to work on a document simultaneously with various co-editing and commenting functionalities.
  • Cross-Platform
    ONLYOFFICE is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling users to work seamlessly across different operating systems.
  • Integrations
    It integrates well with third-party services and platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Nextcloud for enhanced functionality and ease of access to files.
  • Open Source
    ONLYOFFICE offers an open-source version, giving users the ability to review, modify, and improve the source code according to their needs.
  • Interface
    The user interface is clean and modern, designed to be intuitive for users coming from other popular office suites like Microsoft Office.

Possible disadvantages of ONLYOFFICE

  • Resource Usage
    ONLYOFFICE can be resource-intensive, particularly when handling large or complex documents, which might slow down older or less powerful computers.
  • Features
    While feature-rich, it may lack some advanced functionalities available in other established office suites, particularly those tailored for very specific or advanced use cases.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those accustomed to other office suites, might face a slight learning curve initially due to differences in the user interface and feature set.
  • Dependence on Internet
    Some collaboration features are dependent on internet connectivity, which can be a limitation in environments with unreliable internet access.
  • Support and Documentation
    While there is a community and some official documentation, the level of support and abundance of tutorials might not be as comprehensive as those available for more mainstream office suites.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any software that handles sensitive data, there can be concerns over data security and privacy, particularly with the cloud components of ONLYOFFICE.

PrivacyNotes features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    PrivacyNotes is designed with privacy as a core principle, aiming to keep your notes secure and away from third-party access, which appeals to users concerned about data confidentiality.
  • Encryption
    The service typically emphasizes encryption to protect note content, meaning your data is scrambled and less vulnerable to unauthorized reading if intercepted or stored.
  • Ephemeral notes
    Many privacy note services offer self-destructing or temporary notes that automatically delete after being read or after a set time, reducing the digital footprint left behind.
  • Simple and lightweight
    Such tools often provide a clean, minimal interface focused on quick note creation and sharing without unnecessary features, making it easy to use.
  • No account required
    Privacy-oriented note apps frequently allow you to create and share notes without registration, lowering the barrier to entry and reducing personal data collection.

Analysis of ONLYOFFICE

Overall verdict

  • ONLYOFFICE is a solid choice for users looking for an affordable, versatile office suite that offers strong collaboration capabilities and extensive format support. Whether you need basic document handling or advanced office productivity, it can serve as a reliable alternative to pricier office solutions.

Why this product is good

  • ONLYOFFICE offers a comprehensive suite of office applications that are compatible with Microsoft Office, making it easy to use for individuals and businesses familiar with traditional office software.
  • It provides a collaborative platform which is beneficial for teams, allowing real-time co-editing and file sharing within the cloud.
  • The software supports multiple formats and offers robust functionality including document, spreadsheet, and presentation tools.
  • It has both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, which offer flexibility depending on user needs and privacy concerns.
  • ONLYOFFICE has a clean, intuitive user interface, making it easy to navigate even for those less tech-savvy.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses seeking a cost-effective, collaborative office suite.
  • Educational institutions that need versatile, easy-to-use software for staff and students.
  • Individuals and teams that require compatibility with Microsoft Office formats but prefer lower cost alternatives.
  • Organizations that prioritize data privacy and flexibility in deployment, allowing optional on-premises hosting.

Analysis of PrivacyNotes

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified, specific information about PrivacyNotes (privacynotes.app) to make a reliable assessment of its quality, security practices, or features. I cannot confirm details about its encryption methods, privacy policy, company background, or user reviews.

Why this product is good

  • Unable to verify claims about encryption or zero-knowledge architecture without independent confirmation
  • No access to current user reviews, ratings, or reputation data for this specific service
  • Cannot confirm company legitimacy, ownership, or track record
  • Unable to verify uptime, reliability, or actual security audit results
  • No information available on pricing structure or terms of service specifics

Recommended for

  • Before using, research independently via security audit reports if available
  • Check for third-party security reviews or penetration testing results
  • Verify the company's privacy policy and data handling practices directly on their site
  • Look for user reviews on independent platforms rather than relying on marketing claims
  • Consider established, well-audited alternatives if handling highly sensitive information

ONLYOFFICE videos

OnlyOffice - Key Feature Goodness

More videos:

  • Review - OnlyOffice - This may be the Office you're looking for
  • Review - OnlyOffice, a free, self hosted,, open source office suite that can replace Microsoft Office easily!

PrivacyNotes videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ONLYOFFICE and PrivacyNotes)
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Journal
0 0%
100% 100
Office Suites
100 100%
0% 0
Document Encryption
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing ONLYOFFICE and PrivacyNotes.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

Honestly? We have no idea, and that is the entire point. Signup is anonymous (a recovery phrase or Google, no email or personal details), the app ships zero analytics and zero trackers, and zero-knowledge encryption means we cannot see who you are or what you store. We could not name a single customer if we tried. A privacy product that tracked its users closely enough to brag about them would be missing the plot.

What makes your product unique?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

PrivacyNotes is the only zero-knowledge encrypted workspace that keeps notes, tasks, journals, files, and a password vault behind one set of on-device keys. Most privacy apps do one of those well and rent it to you monthly. We do all five, encrypt everything with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before it leaves your device, and charge once instead of forever. The encryption core is open core, published so the claims can be verified rather than trusted.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

Three reasons:

  • One app, not four subscriptions. Standard Notes, Day One, and Lunatask each rent you a slice (notes, journaling, tasks). PrivacyNotes covers all of them plus files and a vault, for a fair one-time fee.
  • Real zero-knowledge. Your keys come from a recovery phrase that never touches our servers, so we cannot read your notes, your filenames, or your metadata. Some encrypted apps leave note or task metadata in the clear; we do not.
  • Verifiable, not just trusted. The crypto and schema are open core and published for review, and there is no ad, tracker, or analytics anywhere in the app.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

Privacy-conscious individuals and independent professionals who handle information they would not want a vendor reading: lawyers, journalists, healthcare and mental-health practitioners, developers, security specialists, researchers, and founders. It also fits anyone who simply wants one private home for their notes, tasks, journaling, and wellness tracking instead of spreading them across surveillance-funded apps.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

React, TypeScript, Vite and Tailwind CSS.

What's the story behind your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

PrivacyNotes started from a simple frustration: staying organized meant scattering your life across half a dozen apps, most of which could read everything you typed and billed you monthly for the privilege. We wanted one place for notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords, encrypted so thoroughly that the people running the servers could not read a word of it, and paid for once rather than forever. So we built the encryption first, made the keys live only on your device, and published the crypto as open core so the promise could be checked, not just believed. Everything else grew from one rule: your data is yours, and no one else's to mine.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ONLYOFFICE and PrivacyNotes

ONLYOFFICE Reviews

25 Best Asana Alternatives & Competitors for Project Management in 2024
The next Asana alternative is ONLYOFFICE, a feature-rich project tool complete with collaborative online document editors for all types of teams and industries. In addition, ONLYOFFICEโ€™s project hierarchy is easy to customize using milestones, tasks, and subtasks for optimal organization.
Source: clickup.com
Top Alternatives to Microsoft Office Suite
ONLYOFFICE combines document editing, project management, and CRM capabilities in a single platform. Its versatility and integration options make it suitable for businesses looking to centralize their operations.
Source: saaszeal.com
The Best 21 Sharepoint Alternatives in 2019
ONLYOFFICE will let you doubt the necessity of a physical office by offering hosting services with many additional features. Hosting companies are experts at securing online information. Because theyโ€™re knowledgeable about hosting, they can help you keep your companyโ€™s documents safe. They have expert encryption procedures and portal access features. This means you can store...
7 SharePoint Alternatives that Actually Get the Job Done
ONLYOFFICE is a cloud office solution to help teams share documents. Its primary selling point is that itรขย€ย™s compatible with Microsoft Suite. While itรขย€ย™s not that sophisticated, ONLYOFFICE is certainly cheaper than some other SharePoint alternative options.
Source: www.process.st

PrivacyNotes Reviews

  1. Everything I Needed in One App

    This app checks every box for me. Clean interface, no learning curve, local-first encryption, and secure sync across all of my devices.

    The biggest surprise is how many apps it replaced. Instead of juggling separate apps for notes, habits, mood, activities, and important dates, everything lives in one place now. It's made staying organized a lot simpler.

    Paying once and knowing I won't lose access to my workflow because I canceled yet another subscription is incredibly refreshing. That peace of mind is worth a lot to me.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Capacities, Evernote, Notion, Obsidian.md
  2. Feature rich

    The best thing about this: No subscription model, it's a one-time fee for a lifetime license. But you can start for free with the generous freemium model. I only needed to upgrade to pro because I wanted to use the app on my phone, laptop and desktop. Highly recommended! Btw, it's a perfect markdown editor as well, not sure why they don't emphasize this more.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ONLYOFFICE and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

LibreOffice - Free office suite, open source, and compatible with .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx files. Updated regularly โ€“ download for free. Originally based on OpenOffice.org.

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

Asana - Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done.

Standard Notes - A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

Redmine - Flexible project management web application

Apple Notes - Apple Notes functions as a service for making short text notes.